"Somewhere in 
France." 



BY 



SEYMOUR S. TIBBALS 




PRICE 25 GENTS 



Eldridge Entertainment House 

FrankUn, Obio Denver, Colo. 



A HIT ON YOUR NEXT PROGRAM! 

Something Out of The Ordinary 
In High-Glass Humorous Songs. 



» 



MUSICAL SKETCHES FOR YOUNG LADIES 

By Harry C, Eldridge 

These fill an urgent need in supplying 
musical numbers with action, for any secular 
program, for girls or ladies of any age. Clever 
words and singable music combined to make 
novel numbers for your entertainment. 

^ THE HAT OF OTHER DAYS. Everyone knows how 
ridiculous the changing styles make out-of- 
date hats appeai'. Th6 song is based on this 
fact, and the appearance of these **hats of 
other days'' will cause loads of merriment. 

"I OAN'T DO A THING WITH MY HAIR SINCE IT'S WASHED." 

Did you ever hear the above expression? They 
all say it. This song is for a merry group of 
girls who have trouble in keeping their hair in 
bounds. A jolly song. 

REDUCED TO $1.99. The figures in a dry goods 
show window are indignant at having to par- 
ticipate in so many * 'reduction sales,'' and, 
revolting, walk off the stage after telling 
their troubles in song. The eccentric motions 
of these figures make a very laughable number. 

THE WINNING WAYS OF GRANDMA'S DAYS. Sung in 

costumQ, this portrays the many welcome and 

pleajsiri^ costumes of "ye olden times." Di- 

rectign^ for minuet included. Very enjoyable. 

Any one of the above sent postpaid on receipt of 25 cents. 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

Franklin, Ohio 



SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE 



A^Patriotic Drama In Two Acts 



By SEYMOUR S. TIBBALS 



Copyright. 1917, Eldridge'Entertainment House 



NOTICE— The professional acting rights of this play are 
reserved by the author, and permission for such per- 
formances must be obtained before performances are 
given. This notice does not apply to amateurs who 
may perform the play without permission. All pro- 
fessional unauthorized productions will be prosecuted 
under the copyright law. 



PUBLISHED BY i ; '^ 

Eldridge Entertainment House. 

FRANKLIN. OHIO « DENVER, COLO. 



aO 48180 



OCT 27 1917 



\5 //>,•> 






Cast of Characters 

Pierre Graudet, a Frenchman 

Madame Graudet, his wife 

Jean, their son 

Nanon, their daughter 

Lisette, another daughter age 6 years 

Mary Dale, an American Red Cross nurse 

Dr. Montaine, a surgeon in the French army 



stage Directions 

In "Somewhere in France'' the atmosphere is all 
important. Pierre and Madame Graudet are old and 
poor and discouraged. They have remained in the 
little home within sound of the German guns expect- 
ing daily to be compelled to flee. Their costumes 
should be old clothing but neat and clean. Nanon 
and Lisette also wear old clothing. Remember none 
of these people have been able to buy anything since 
the war began. Be careful not to overdress the parts. 
Jean wears the French uniform but as the French 
army in the trenches is not particular as to appear- 
ance of uniforms almost any blue or grey suit will do. 
Dr. Montaine should be dressed in blue suit with 
shoulder straps, brass buttons and gold stripe down 
trouser's leg. In a production where absolute accur- 
acy is necessary we would suggest consulting a pro- 
fessional costumer as to Jean's and Dr. Montaine's 
uniforms. Mary Dale wears white nurse's dress with 
red cross on sleeve and cap. 

If a garden or lawn production is desired, build a 
wall out of brick paper which can be had for 10 cents 
per sheet, for a background with a gateway through 
the center. In either case, exterior or interior pro- 
duction, always remember that your characters are 
very poor and filled with dread and fear. 

As written the play is designed for the average 
amateur production upon a small stage or auditorium 
platform. If produced in a city theatre the jnilitary 
surroundings may be greatly augmented by introduc- 
ing a squad of soldiers at the final climax. A band 
in the distance playing the "Star Spangled Banner" 
may also be introduced. If an orchestra is used ap- 
propriate incidental music will suggest itself. 

A pleasing interlude between the acts may be in- 
troduced by having a young girl in costume sing "She 
Wears a Cross Upon Her Sleeve," by Harry C. El- 
dridge. Price 25 cents. 



"Somewhere in France." 



ACT I 

(At rise of curtain Pierre and Madame Grau- 
det are discovered. Pierre sits moodily at a 
hare table staring into an empty wooden botvl. 
Madame is gazing out of the window. Sound 
of distant cannon is heard at intervals of about 
a minute throughout the scene. This effect can 
be secured by tapping a bass drum gently.) 

Madame They are still at it. All night I heard 
the sound like the approach of a distant storm. I 
could not sleep. 

Pierre Will it never cease? Two years ago we 
felt the end was near and still we hold out against 
the invader. I am weary with the wear of it all. 
Why does the young giant across the sea permit the 
thing to go on and on ? (smites the table with his fist) 
They boast of their love of Liberty. They call their 
land the land of the free and the home of the brave. 
We helped them when they needed help and we sent 
them the statue of liberty to light the world, (rises 
and shows signs of anger. ) 

Madame (goes to him and lays her hand upon his 
arm) Peace, Pierre, be quiet. In their own good 
time — 

Pierre Their own good time, indeed. Our men 
are dying in the trenches, our women worn by waiting, 
our children crying for bread. Is freedom only for 
Americans? Was not the lesson of Belgium sufficient? 
Was not the sinking of a ship with women and chil- 
dren enough? It must be true that America has 
grown fat and lazy, that her heart is a dollar and — 

Madame Pierre, I will not listen to your tirade. I 
am going over to the hospital, (throws shawl over 
her head and exits. ) 



6 Somewhere in France 

Pierre (sits at table) France, France! Torn and 
bleeding, crushed under the heel of the mad monarch. 
(sound of cannon) Pound on, you will never subdue 
us. We shall win in the end but why do the sons of 
liberty across the sea wait so long? (bows his head 
upon his arms. ) 

(Enter Nanon with two loaves of bread, ) 

Nanon (looks about and sighs. Then goes to table 
and places bread before her father. ) See, father. I 
have two loaves of bread. Madame De Chambro re- 
ceived a box from Paris this morning and father, 
(shakes him gently) look up. I have news. 

Pierre (lifts his head) Bread and news? Indeed 
my child you are a true daughter of the Republic. 
You never give up. The news is that the Germans have 
renewed the offensive and that by tomorrow at the 
latest we must give up the home and join the refugees. 
For three years we have remained within sound of 
the pounding guns. At night we can see the rockets' 
glare and the flash of the bursting shells. We have 
succored the wounded and smoothed the pillow of the 
dying here in our little kitchen. We have lived on 
the edge of this hell for weeks and months waiting, 
waiting. And now you have news that we must 
give up, must retreat, must admit that we are beaten. 
(Lets his head fall upon his arms on the table. ) 

Nanon (has stood patiently waiting for her father 
to cease. She goes to him and places her hand upon 
his head) Mon cher, perel I do not wonder that you 
are discouraged. But listen, mon pere, it is not that 
we are beaten, it is not that we must give up. (Pierre 
raises his head and looks at her. ) It is not that we 
must leave the home. 

Pierre Nanon, you do not mean — 

Nanon That the Americans are coming. That 
their leader. General Pershing, is already here. He 
has been here more than a month and last week the 
second contingent of American troops disembarked at 
Cherbourg. They have loaned us millions of dollars. 



Somewhere in France 7 

They are going to help us win the war. {Pierre sits 
dazed, Nanon takes him by the shoulder and shakes 
him. ) Do you hear, mon chere, pere? Do you under- 
stand, Pierre Graudet? The Americans are here. 
We are saved. 

Pierre (rises and stands erect) I cannot beheve 
it. The Germans told us they would not come. Bern- 
stein declared they would not make the sacrifice, they 
would not raise the money, that they would not fight. 
And now, my child, you tell me they are already 
here. 

(Mary Dale and Lisette appear at door. ) 

Nanon And their angel of mercy, our Red Cross 
nurse, Mary Dale, has come to tell you more about 
this wonderful thing that has come to pass. 

Pierre {turns and salutes Mary, while Lisette runs 
to him and he stoops and kisses her) Come in. Miss 
Dale. We have not seen our Lady of the Lamp for 
some time. Is what my Nanon tells me true? Your 
great country is really coming to our aid? 

{Lisette goes back to Mary ivho draivs her close 
in a fond embrace. ) 

Mary It is quite so, my friend. Our prayers have 
been answered and great, big-hearted, liberty-loving 
America has thrown her weight in the balance 
against the tyrant. 

Pierre But why, oh why, did they put off their 
coming for so long? 

Mary Let us sit down. I have had little rest and 
I am tired. {They all sit, Lisette on the floor at Mary's 
feet) I will try to tell you, my good Pierre Graudet, 
why America waited so long. 

Pierre I shall never understand. They knew we 
were in sore distress. 

Mary The outbreak of this war in 1914 caught my 
Nation by surprise. You people of Europe had at 
least some warnings of the coming storm, but to us 
in distant America such a blind, savage, onslaught 



8 Somewhere in France 

on the ideals of civilization seemed impossible. Your 
war to us was beyond our comprehension. 

Pierre You were too busy making money. You 
were all rich and fat and lazy. 

Nanon Pere, mon cher pere. Do not say such 
things. 

Mary I und^erstand, Nanon. We all understand now 
But you must remember my country is called the 
melting-pot of the world. Both sides of this war, at 
the beginning, were championed by millions living 
among us who were of European birth. Their dif- 
ferent claims threw our thoughts into chaos, and we 
could see no clear issue that affected our national 
policy, for you will recall that in the beginning there 
was no direct assault upon our rights. 

Pierre You forget the wanton attack upon Bel- 
gium. Was not the American heart touched by those 
terrible outrages? 

Mary Indeed, yes. Public opinion was deeply 
stirred by the German invasion of Belgium and by 
the reports of atrocities there. The sympathy of 
America went out to the Belgians in their heroic 
tragedy, and from every section of our land money 
and supplies of food and clothing poured over to the 
Commission for Relief in Belgium. 

Pierre But you let the thing go on. You declared 
yourselves neutral. 

Mary It was the only course we could take with- 
out an abrupt departure from our most treasured 
traditions of non-interference in Old World disputes. 
The thought of taking an active part in this European 
war was very far from most of our minds. 

Nanon Did you think your neighbor's land could 
be destroyed without yourselves being made to suffer? 

Mary That was not it, my dear. We believed that 
by maintaining a strict neutrality we could best serve 
Europe at the end as impartial mediators. 

Pierre At last you learned your mistake. Prussian- 
ism triumphant, there would have been nothing to 



Somewhere in France 9 

mediate. All Democracies would have gone down 
before the mailed fist and your land of the free would 
have been trampled beneath the heel of militarism. 

{Enter Madame Graudet and Jean, Jean is 
covered with dust and wears one arm in a 
sling. All rise at their entrance. ) 

Madame (embracing Mary) Thank God, my child, 
They say the Americans have come, that they are 
even now here, here in France. 

Mary It is true, Madame, and it makes me very 
happy. I am waiting eagerly for the sight of my 
flag. 

Jean I am just back from the trenches. My cap- 
tain made me come and rest for a day and a night. 

Nanon (goes to him) You are wounded, Jean. 

Jean A mere scratch. I did not want to come at 
all. We have been near the Canadians. Ah, they 
are first rate fighting men. Along the Valley of 
the Souchez toward Lens last week they gained 
ground greater than any action since the capture of 
Vimy Ridge and the land restored to France includes 
some of our best coal mines. 

Pierre Vive la France! I feel my hope returning. 

Jean (takes letter from pocket) See, here is a letter 
a big Canadian gave me. He found it m a raided 
dugout. It is from Bielefeld, Prussia. Listen, (reads) 
*lt is all terribly sad. On Sunday 90 victims of the 
explosion in a munitions factory had been buried. 
One woman, who lost four sons in the field, has now 
lost her three daughters in the explosion." 

Pierre I'm glad of that. I'm glad of that. 

Madame No, Pierre, God forbid that we should 
gloat over such misery. The German mother was not 
to blame. My heart bleeds for her. 

Mary You are right, Madame Graudet. The thou- 
sands of mothers of Germany, whose hearts are brok- 
en by this awful waste of life, should have the pity 
of every Christian soul. 'Twas ever woman's portion 



10 Somewhere in France 

to suffer the keenest agony while men reap the glory 
of war. 

Pierre But they brought this on themselves. 

Nanon Not the mothers of Germany, pere. This 
war would never have been if the mothers had had 
their way. 

Jean But that is not all. Listen to this in the Ger- 
man's letter. ''Today the church bells have pealed 
a farewell. This week all of them will be taken away 
to be smeltered down and turned into shells.'' 

Mary Oh the pity of it. The sweet bells of Saxony 
that were cast to ring out tidings of peace and good 
will must now cause death and destruction. 

Pierre Aye, but it means they are hard put to it 
for metal. 

Jean And it means that the bells of Rhiems and 
Liege and the cathedral chimes in all the villages of 
France and Belgium which have been silenced by the 
wanton missiles hurled from Prussian guns have been 
avenged. I cannot feel sorry that the bells of Ger- 
many at last are still. 

Mary But it is all so wasteful, so useless. 

Pierre Useless? Mon Dieu, you women will never 
understand. Is it useless to destroy a despot? Is it 
wasteful to sacrifice all, that liberty may live? 

Mary But there should be a better and an easier 
way. 

Jean It has never been so. Always the road to 
freedom and happiness lies up the rugged mountain 
side, and to reach it the feet of humanity must be 
torn by the briers and the jagged rocks of sacrifice 
and death itself. 

Mary It is well that there are brave men like you 
in this world, Jean. 

Jean It is not the men who are brave, my little 
nurse. We become enthused by madness. It is you 
and the women like you who are brave. I have seen 
your white-robbed sisters, with the cross upon your 



Somewhere in France 11 

arms, kneeling behind the trenches, walking /mid 
the shambles smear and stench, going wherever wo- 
man^s care and love can live. When the end comes 
and history writes this dark chapter in the annals of 
the world, the deeds of men will have their place but 
the one radiant, white-robed figure that will stand 
out in the dark picture of sacrifice on the hellish ruin 
of war^s red line will be the Red Cross nurse. 

Madame And the mothers of France, my son. Do 
not forget they too have made the sacrifice. 

Jean {goes to his mother and puts his arm about 
hzr) It is for France, mother, that you have made 
the sacrifice. 

Madame Yes, that is the cry. But what will 
France do when her youth is killed and none but the 
old and worthless like me, are left? 

Jean You are not worthless, dear mother. 

Madame Perhaps not yet, but ah, my son, I soon 

shall be. You are the last of my boys. Your brother, 

Pierre- 
Jean Yes. Poor Pierre. 
Madame Slain at Verdun. 
Jean {drawing himself erect) Fighting for France. 

Madame We shall never see him again. Never 
know where he lies— just out there, somewhere, with 
thousands of others. 

Jean Some day, mother— 

Madame There is no some day, my son, for the 
mother bereft. And last month, Durand— 

Jean But they brought Durand home, mother. 

Madame Brought him home to die. Thank God 
for that much— that I saw him before the end, and 
he spoke to me. 

Mary And he had the medal of honor pinned upon 
his breast. 

Madame {erect with pride) The medal of honor 
was upon his breast. 



12 Somewhere in France 

Lisette Why did they give him the medal of honor, 
mother? 

Madame I have told you many times, my child. 

Lisette But never enough. Please tell us again, 
mother. 

Madame (sits as Lisette kneels beside her) It was 
at the end of a terrible day in Soissons. Our boys, 
your brother, Durand among them, were driving the 
Germans from their trenches. Again and again they 
were thrown back yet returned v/ith courage, until at 
last a veil of flame and gas, known as the devil's 
breath, was hurled upon them. 

Mary How terrible! 

Madame Durand, my son, Durand, was first in 
the advance and therefore in the last line of retreat. 
He heard a cry of agony and turning saw a comrade, 
some yards behind him, crawling on his hands and 
knees, dragging a shattered limb. 

Nanon And Durand went back. Go on, mother. 

Madame (as though seeing a vision) Durand went 
back. Through that vapor of death, blind and suffo- 
cating until he reached his wounded comrade. He 
picked him up and carried him on his back, with 
shells raining death about him, back to the French 
lines and safety. 

Jean And for that, little sister, they gave him the 
medal of honor. 

Madame To pin upon his breast when we laid him 
to rest a few weeks later. 

Mary But, Madame Graudet, it is wonderful to be 
the mother of such a son. 

Madame (with dignity) It is something, my 
friend. Courage is an attribute of manhood— but 
none of my men were afraid. 

Pierre You will learn young woman that whatever 
may by charged against the men of France it has 
never been said that they are cowards. 



Somewhere in France 13 

Mary How well does America know that. It is 
l3ecause of our admiration and our sense of obligation 
to France that we have made your cause, our cause, 
your war, our war. 

Madame But what of the women of France? What 
of the mothers like me? "It is for France/ you all 
cry until I am aweary of it. What has France given 
me compared with what she has taken away? Two 
sons dead and one shattered. **It is for France." 
And we women sit here and give and give and give. 
(she hursts into tears) 

Mary (goes to her and puts her arm about her 
shoulder) Your son has said, Madame Graudet, that 
after all it is the women who are brave. The mother 
of such sons will not shrink. 

(Sound of drums in the distance drawing 
nearer. ) 

Pierre What is that? (goes to door) I do not rec- 
ognize that drum beat. It has a new rythm. See, 
see. (the others gather around him) What flag is 
that? It is not the tri-color. I cannot see for the 
trees. My son, Jean, your eyes are younger than 
mine. Tell me what flag is that? 

Mary Look, look, my friends. It is my flag. It 
is the stars and stripes. 

Madame Thank God. They have not come too 
late. 

Jean (grabs up his cap) Let me go. (his mother 
clings to him) Let me go. 

Madame But you are wounded, Jean. No, no. 
you shall not go. 

Jean It is for France. They have come to fight 
with us for France. I must go with them, (tears 
himself away) Goodbye. I'm going with our allies. 
It is for France, (rushes off. Drum beat sounds nearer 
Pierre and Mary support Madame Graudet. Nanon 
waves farewell in doorway. ) 

CURTAIN 



14 Somewhere in France 

ACT II. 

(Scene the same. Six months later. Madame 
Graudet is clearing away the table after break- 
fast. Nanon busy sewing, right. Pierre 
Graudet sits reading left. Lisette is studying 
on the floor near Nanon. ) 

Madame They should be here now at any time. 
Nanon Think how anxious poor Jean must be. 

Pierre (looking up from his book) Three months 
of total darkness. It gives a man time to think. 

Madame Aye and time to hate. 

Pierre But it was for France and he too has the 
medal of honor. 

Madame Much joy may it bring him if he is never 
to look upon it. 

Nanon But the surgeon said there was a chance 
that Jean might not be always blind. 

Madame ' 'A fighting chance for the poor boy's 
eyes'* is what he said, Nanon. I have heard of the 
surgeon's fighting chance before, my child. It is al- 
most always a vain glimmer of hope held out to sus- 
tain the patient. It usually means no chance at all. 

Pierre Nay, mother, the tide has turned. Victory 
now favors France. The end is not far off and our 
son, Jean, will recover from the injury to his eyes. 

Madame I pray that you may be right, Pierre. 
But I have lost so much that I am almost without 
hope that I shall live to see peace proclaimed and 
Jean's sight restored. 

Nanon If faithful care and tender nursing will 
bring the light, then Jean shall see the stars again 
for Mary Dale has given him every spare moment of 
her time. 

Pierre She has watched over him like a sister. 

Madame Sister! You poor old simpleton. It was 
more than the care of a sister that Mary has given 
our Jean. 



Somewhere in France 15 

Pierre You do not think she loves our boy? 

Nanon How blind are men to the ways of women* 

Pierre But he may be blind. He may never be 
able to make his own way again. 

Madame Fie, Monsieur Graudet. I am ashamed 
of you. Would that make any difference. Our Jean 
is a splendid fellow. 

Pierre No doubt. No doubt. But would a woman 
take a man who cannot see for a husband? 
Nanon If she truly loved him, yes. 
Pierre I do not believe it. 
Madame I married you. 
Pierre Egad, yes. But I was not blind. 
Madame You had other afflictions. 
Pierre Indeed and what were they? 

Madame You were poor and you were in debt and 
you had a bad temper and you swore and— 

Pierre Enough, in heaven ^s name, enough. All 
that you say is true but I had eyes that could see the 
beauty of your smile and I had strength and you gave 
me all the rest, (hesitates a moment) But you took 
an awful chance Madame Graudet. 

Madame (goes to him and places her hand upon 
his head) It has been worth it, my own Pierre. We 
made our way when we were young. We built our 
nest and we raised our fledglings. We have toiled 
and we have sorrowed. But all the struggle in the 
past has been nothing compared to these years of the 
war. 

Pierre God grant that the end may come soon. 

Nanon (rising, goes to door) I wonder why they 
do not come? Mary said she would bring him soon 
after breakfast. 

Madame Jean felt he must know the result of the 
operation here in the old home. He would not let 
them remove the bandages at the hospital. 

Nanon It is like, Jean. He has always loved his. 



16 Somewhere in France 

home and if his sight is to be restored he said he 
wanted his eyes to be opened upon the scene he loves 
the best. 

Pierre Jean has been a good lad. He will prove 
:a true and worthy husband to the little American. 

Madame If he can but see once more. 

Pierre There you go croaking again. You are 
enough to sour the milk. Why don't you hope for 
the best like a man? 

Madame Because I have the heart of a woman. 
Jean's eyes to me are the same as when a little curly 
headed babe he lay upon my breast and looked up 
with those wondering eyes of wistful inquiry. Oh, 
how I hate the cursed shell that tore them. 

Pierre It was for France. 

Madame Will France give him back his sight? 

Nanon Time will tell, mother. We shall soon know. 

{Mary Dale and Jean enter. She leads him 
gently and his eyes are bandaged. ) 

Mary {leading Jean to chair in center of stage) 
See I brought him home to you again, Mother Grau- 
det. With his medal of honor upon his breast {points 
to medal on Jean's breast. ) 

Jean Yes, mother, I have it. Just like Durand's. 
Is it not pretty? 

Madame {laying her hand upon his head) My 
^on, my poor son. 

Jean Do not say that, mother. I am the proudest, 
happiest man in France. Am I an object of pity? 
{rises) I have my legs to stand upon, my arms to 
put about you and my ears to hear the peals of victory 
when the bells shall chime at the close of the war. 
And I have my medal of honor, mother. 

Madame My poor, poor boy. {covers her face with 
her apron. ) 

Mary {leading her aside) Not now, mother 
Graudet. This is n'or time for weakness. He needs 
all his strength, all his courage for the ordeal that 



Somewhere in France 17 

lies before him. The surgeon has not yet given his 
consent to have the bandages removed at home but 
while we wait I brought him here that he might not 
grow excited. I thought it best to bring him here 
for he must rest a bit before we let the light touch 
his eyes. Leave us alone for a few minutes, (aloud) 
Go to the kitchen and put some water on to boil then 
let it cool until it is not too hot to bath the eyes. 
(During this speech Lisette has crept upon Jean* s lap 
and lies there until called by Nanon. ) 

(Madame looks longingly at Jean, then nods 
to Mary and exits. ) 

Mary And you, Monsieur Graudet. Will you go to 
the hospital and bring my surgical dressings bag, I 
left it in my ward. The attendant will get it for you, 

Pierre Am I to bring nought else? 

Mary That is all. Everything we need is in the 
bag. But do not tarry too long and let Dr. Montaine 
know we are here. 

Pierre Fll be back quicker than the Germans are 
beating it to Berlin, Jean. 

Mary And you, Nanon, take Lisette out to see the 
new American flag they have hung from the hospital 
tower. I want Jean to be perfectly quiet while we 
wait. 

Nanon Come, Lisette. Two is company and— four 
are entirely too many, (smiles at Mary) We obey 
your commands. Miss Columbia, and I know Lisette 
will adore the pretty new flag. Goodbye, Jean.. 
(they exit ) 

Jean Goodbye, (pause) We are alone? 

Mary The hour we have waited for is here, Jean. 
The long, long hours of fear and uncertainty are past. 
Are you quite ready? 

Jean I am ready. Whatever the outcome, my 
faithful friend, I shall not regret it. And now as I 
still sit in the dark, in doubt as to the result, let 
me once more thank you for your faithful care. Give 



18 Somewhere in France 

me your hand, (she places her hand in his. ) This 
hand has led me through the awful night of many- 
weeks. In my delirium it was your sweet touch that 
soothed me. I may continue to grop in the dark, but 
oh, what shall I do when I no longer have this hand 
to lead me. {kisses her hand.) 

Mary Don't, Jean, please, {draws aivay her hand) 

Jean Forgive me. I did not mean to hurt you. 

Mary You did not hurt me. Can't you understand? 
It is very hard for me. If all goes as we hope you 
will not need any hand to lead you. 

Jean All men need a woman's hand to guide them, 
Mary. Those of the clearest vision need it most. 

Mary Ah, that is better. That is a brave speech 
and worthy of a soldier of France who wears the 
medal of honor. 

Jean And now >ou make it hard for me, mon cher. 

Mary Indeed, and how is that? 

Jean If I am always to be in the dark I cannot ask 
you what is in my heart. No blind man has the right 
to ask a women's care and love for life. 

Mary And whom, pray, would need it more? 

Jean But it would not be fair. 

Mary My life work is to care for those who need 
me most. 

Jean It may be best then that I shall never see. 

Mary God forbid. {siU beside him) 

Jean This fitful life of ours is a strange web after 
all. Three years ago I did not know there was such a 
girl in all the world as Mary Dale. You were in far 
away America and I was busy here in my beloved 
France. Then came this bolt from a clear sky. For 
the people of Europe there was an end to all plans 
and ambitions. Chaos ensued. 

Mary And now for more than three years you 
have been resisting invaders of unimaginable cruelty. 
For more than three years the cities and villages of 



Somewhere in France 19 

your fair France have been subjected to ruinous bom- 
bardments. 

Jean Even so. For more than three years the 
men of France— fathers of families, brothers and 
sons— have made their bodies a parapet against the 
bullets and shells of the aggressors. For more than 
three years the women and children of France have 
been suffering unspeakable woe. Among all the 
people there has been pain and over all the land there 
has been darkness. But out of the darkness— 

Mary {taking his hand, softly) But out of the 
darkness, Jean. 

Jean Came you. A ministering angel. 

Mary I had to come, Jean, During the most part 
of three years American, the sister republic of France, 
kept out of war. During those weary months upon 
months the America flag was kept furled at home. 
When the heroism of the French sons, brothers and 
fathers in their resistance to the forces of tyranny 
was recounted to us, when the desolation of the land 
under the invader was described, when the cry of 
the women and children of France reached our ears, 
and our intinct commanded us to rise and go to your 
help, we were told that we must preserve our own 
peace and prosperity, that we must be for America 
first, that war was wicked and we must have no part 
in it. 

Jean Ah you did not know. You did not under- 
stand. It all seemed so far away to you. 

• Mary And France never complained and never 
reproached us. Now at last, we are where we ought 
to be— by the side of those who are fighting for the 
preservation of democracy and of the right to life, 
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is no wonder 
that when our fiag was unfurled in Paris, French 
children knelt in the street. 

Jean The bond between our people will never be 
forgotten. It will stand out as one of the most beau- 
tiful ties in the long, long struggle of humanity. For 



20 Somewhere in France 

there is no friendship more lasting than that of those- 
who give help to men, women and little children suf- 
fering in the defense of an ideal. 

Mary There is a happy satisfaction in doing one's 
duty, my friend. 

Jean I am impatient to know my fate. Is it to be 
a life long groping— alone in the dark, or is it to be 
the sunshine with you? 

Mary (rises and stands behind him) If you want 
me, Jean, the darkness shall not come between us. 

(He reaches out to embrace her, half-rising 
when Pierre Graudet and Dr. Montaine are 
heard outside.) 

Pierre (outside) I am sure she will await our 
coming. 

(They enter.) 

Dr. Montaine So, I have found the runaways. 
This is quite irregular, Miss Dale. 

Jean I insisted upon it, doctor Montaine. 

Dr. M. A good patient obeys his surgeon's orders, 
a good soldier his captain's commands. 

Mary I sought but to ease his nervous anxiety. 
You warned against fretting and excitement. He 
has been very patient. Dr. Montaine. 

Dr. M. Perhaps it is as well after all. The hour 
has come and Jean Graudet has been a good patient. 
Now, mon ami, we shall see. You have borne the 
suspense like a brave man. Let us hope your suffer- 
ing is to be rewarded. 

Mary (aside) I was only humoring him. Doctor 
Montaine. Surely you know I would not have dis~ 
turbed the dressings until you came. 

Dr. M. I am not angry. But I am busy, so busy 
that I should not have taken the time to come here. 
Let us proceed at once. 

(Mary summons Madame Graudet who enters 
with basin of water and clean towels which 



Somewhere in France 21 

she places upon the table. Nanon and Lisette 
appear at door and Mary motions them to 
silence. They enter quietly and Nanon goes 
to Pierre's chair, sits, taking Lisette upon 
her lap. ) 

Dr. M. (opening surgical bag at table) Bring him 
here, close to the table, Miss Dale. 

(Jean reaches out his hand to Mary and rises. 
Pierre Graudet places chair at table and Mary 
leads Jean to it. Madame Graudet stands 
aside with an expression of fear. ) 

Dr. M. (lays aside his coat and rolls up his sleeves) 
You may remove the bandages. Miss Dale. 

(Mary cuts stitches and tenderly unwinds the 
bandages. ) 

Dr. M. Now, Jean, close your eyes tightly. Hold 
them so. Do not attempt to open them until I tell 
you. (As the bandages are removed the eyes are dis- 
covered with rings of dark grease paint about them. 
Mary hands the doctor a sponge ivhich he dips into the 
water and washes away the paint. Jean keeping his 
eyes tightly closed. This action must be done impres- 
sively. Mary busy with dressings and toivels which 
she hands to the doctor. 

Dr. M. (placing his hand over Jean's eyes) Just 
a little now. Easily, carefully. Your eyes are very 
sensitive to the light. Do you see the light? 

Jean (slowly) I— see— the— light. 

Dr. M. Close .your eyes at once. Now, slowly, 
carefully, open them again. My hand is farther away. 
Do you see a stronger light? 

Jean I— see— a— stronger— light. 

Madame Jean, my son. (starts toivard him. ) 

Dr. M. (looks at her sternly) Wait! Close the 
eyes. Jean you will see. Your sight has been spared. 
But you must accustom your eyes to the light gradu- 
ally. We will wear a thinner bandage for a few hours. 



22 Somewhere in France 

Keep the eyes closed. (He nods to Mary who quickly 
places a bandage of two thicknesses over his eyes and 
pins it. ) 

Dr. M. That is all. Your son will recover, Madame 
Graudet. Bring him back to the hospital in half-an- 
hour, Miss Dale, (picks up his bag) Others are 
waiting, many others. Good day. 

Mary You have been very good, all of you. Now 
let him alone a bit. 

(Madame Graudet begins clearing up the table. 
Na7ion and Lisette exit quietly. Pierre follows 
Madame Graudet from the room. Drum beat 
heard in the distance. ) 

Jean I shall see my medal of honor and you. I 
shall not walk alone in the darkness. 

Mary (taking his hand) No, Jean, we will walk to- 
gether down life's pathway. 

Jean (hearing drums) Some troops are passing. 

Mary A detachment of ''Sammies," Jean. You 
shall see them tomorrow. 

Jean Let us start for the hospital and walk slowly, 
Mary. 

(Mary leads him to door and they exit, just 
as American flag is carried by followed by 
several U. S. soldiers.) 

CURTAIN. 



TWO PLAYS FOR BOYS 

By SEYMOUR S. TIBBALS. 

Mr. Tibbals has been unusually successful in fur* 
nishing boys' plays that introduce characters true to 
life. While the plays are strong and forceful in the 
lessons they teach, clean comedy predominates and 
the boys like them. 

<<Ttie Millionaire Janitor" 

A comedy in two acts. Here is a rollicking play 
for eight or more boys with plenty of action. Just 
the thing for a Boys' Class or Junior Y. M. C. A. 
Easily staged and costumed. Opportunity for intro- 
duction of musical numbers and recitations. By in- 
troducing such features the play may be used for 
an entire evening's entertainment. 

Price 25 Cents 



"Up Caesar's Creek" 

A splendid play for any number of boys. The 
characters are real boys and the play deals with their 
experiences while camping up Caesar's Creek the per- 
formance closing with a minstrfel show in camp. Cos- 
tumes and scenery are not elaborate and the play may 
be produced on any stage. 

Price 25 Cents 

These comedies are protected by copyright, but 
permission for amateur production is granted with 
the purchase of the book. 



ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

Franklin, Oblo 



RELEAgP FOR AMATEDR PRODCCnON. 

"The Little Politician" 

By SEYMOUR S. TIBBALS 



A COMEDY IN FOUR AOTS 

SEVEN MALES AND THREE F^EMALES 



^ITHIS play was produced professionally 
^^ for several seasons under another title, 

and is now released for amateur production 
without royalty and without restrictions 
of any kind. The slienery and costumes 
ane simple. Time, about two hours. A 
young society girl plays an important part 
in overthrowing a corrupt political boss 
and brings about the election of her 
fiance. The race for the hand of a 
wealthy widow by rival suitors furnishes 
the comedy. A pretty story is unfolded, 
but without actual love-making or any 
scenes objectionable to the amateur. 
Recommended for high schools and dra- 
matic clubs. 

Jp^^The ^den party in the second act affords 
opportunity for the introduction of any number of 
characters. 

PRICE, 25 CENTS 

Sint Postpiid ofl Receipt of Price by tlie 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

Franklin, Ohio 



" TBE HOUSE THAT BELPS " 

W6 ARE SKOAUSTS n 

Amateur Entertainments 

It is not a side line with us, but we 
devote our entire time to tliat business 






Realizing that many people have grown 
weary of searching through catalogs and read- 
ing entertainments only to discard them as 
unavailable we appreciat^the fact that our cus- 
tomers have often spoken of us as *'the house 
that helps." We have had practical exper- 
ience in selecting and producing amateur en- 
tertainments and we feel that we know what 
will please the public, and what can be pro- 
duced under certain conditions. Our expwIeBce is 
at your dispesal. Write us, giving full particulars 
of your special need in the way of an enter- 
tainment, and we will select a play, an oper- 
etta, a drill or even an entire program for you. 
Bat always enclose a stamp for the rep^. 

RemeBiber, that in addition to our entertain- 
ments we carry a large line of publications of 
other dealers. If in doubt as to the entertain- 
ment you desire, send particulars and we 
will suggest something to fit. 

We are at your service. 

ILDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

Franklin, Ohio 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESJ 




017 401 370 6 



HERE ARE 



SOME OF OUR VERY NEW TITLES 



It is always a satisfaction to be the first to 
get hold of new and novel entertainments, 
and here is YOUR chance: 

PLAYS r<m FEHAU CHARACTERS 

Aunt Deborah's First LuncheoR . ~. 25c 

WIraii Shakespeare Struck The Town 25c 

Ye Tea Party of Ye Olden Time -.... ~25c 

TWO CLEVER MUSICAL PLATS FOR CBILDRBN 

ynder The Sugar Plum Tree 4flc 

In Little Folks Town .. — ~. — 40c 

TWO NEW MOCK TRIALS 

Father Thne's Christmas Trial . 15c 

Will Soakuffl's Matrimonial Bureau — .....25c 

THREE SPLENDID BOOKS 

Dramatic Stories, Myths and Legends.... j Paper 35c; Boards 50c 

For Children— The Staf e or School Room ( 

Good Stunts for Commencement Week 50c 

Novelties That Will Enliven This Festive Occasion 

What to Say For Closing Bay — 30c 

Good Dialogs, Exercises, Etc. for Closing Day. 
SEND ORDERS TO 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

Franklin, Ohio 



